Distributor for bituminous and like materials



Oct. 16, 1951 S. R. ETNYRE DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMINOUS AND LIKE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l Q m u 8 n :42am wr fl'r-romayJ Oct. 16, 1951 s. R. ETNYRE 2,571,850

DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMINOUS AND LIKE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Samuel )Q. fitnqve fln: RNEVJ S. R. ETNYRE Oct. 16, 1951 DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMINOUS AND LIKE MATERIALS j Filed Oct. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 8a me an Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Illinois Application October 15, 1941, sens-1 no. 7 86,01?

Cla ms- Ehe' invention relates to apparatus for distributing such bituminous and like materials as asphalt, road oil, tar and emulsions employed in roadconstruction and maintenance, and more particularly to animproved distributor bar for use in such apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a distributor bar constructed andarrangedso that the end portions may yield to pass an obstruction without damage to the bar or to the fittings as sociated therewith.

Another object isto provide a distributor bar section adapted {orassembly with a conventional distributor bar of the circulating type and operati-ve to impart suflicient flexibility to the bar assembly toprevent damage thereto, when the bar encounters an obstruction.

Still another object is to provide a distributor bar section which pennitsfthe end portions of the bar to be displaced only in a horizontal plane.

A further object is to provide a flexible distributor bar section with associated actuating mechanism for the outlet controlling valves of the bar, which mechanism is adapted to retain its effectiveness when a portion of the bar is deflected from its normal position by encountering an obstacle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flexible distributor bar section which is entirely free of leakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of distributor apparatus embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the flexible bar section as incorporated in a conventional sectional distributor bar showing the end portion of the bar deflected from its normal operating position.

Fig. 3 is a top view showing the flexible bar section in normal operating position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible bar section.

Fig. 5 is a plan and partially sectional view showing details of the joint between the bar sections.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the flexible bar section taken in a vertical plane sub stantially on the line'S-S of Fig. 5.

'While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail thepr'eferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that: I' do not thereby intendto limitthelinvention to the specific form disclosed; but intend to cover allmodifications and.alternative-constructions falling within the spirit and. scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For purposes oi illustration the invention has been-shown in connection with a distributor bar I0 oil'thetype disclosed in the patent to George M. EmyreNo. 2,346,478, issued April 11, 1944, but itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to usewith the particular bar or type of shown 'in the patent. Moreover, the improved distrlbuton. bar may be: used in various types of' distriiautingsystems and inconjunction with varioustypes of supporting and controlling apparatus. such systems and. apparatus are'well known irrthe art, it hasn'ot been deemed necessaryto illustrate them indetail in the instan't. application.

The distributing system herein shown com prises a. supply tank or reservoir l I (Fig. 1) supported in. the usual manner on a truck chassis or other road vehicle. Material to be distributed is dr'awn' from the tank II by a pump l2 and delivered to the distributor bar under pressure by way of a supply conduit I3 In the operation of the apparatus the material is discharged. from the bar through a plurality of spray nozzles M spaced apart longitudinally of the bar H3. The nozzles as herein shown are arranged in pairs and each pair is provided with a suitable valve having an operating lever l5 by which it may be opened or closed to control the discharge of material from the bar. When the nozzle valves are closed the material is circulated through the bar,- as will appear presently, and returned to the tank H by way o'fa return conduit 15.

The exemplary distributor bar" [0 is constructed in three sectiofis,' including a main or intermediate section 211 and two end sections 2| and 22. The end sections are supported on and connected to the intermediate section by U-shaped fittings23 which serve as hinge means to permit the end sections to be swung from an operating position axially aimed with the intermediate sectlon, as .shown'in full section in Fig. 1, to a folded or transporting position substantially at right angles to the intermediate section, as shown in brokenlines in the drawing. For this purpose, one arm of the fitting 23 is constructed so that it may be connected integrally or permanently to the intermediatesection 20, as shown in Fig. 5. The other arm of the fitting is located in the ed on the member and cooperating with an arr-- nular flange or collar on the adjacent end of the section.

To provide for a circulating flow of material through the bar sections 20,21 and 22 when'the discharge nozzles are clos'ed,"th sections are formed with contiguous passages through which the material may make a complete circuit of the bar and return to the tank H in themanner 4 tion 20. Preferably, the flexible unit is constructed in the form of an auxiliary distributor bar section adapted to be interposed between the intermediate and end sections of a conventional distributor bar without requiring alteration or modification of the latter. Provision is also made forienabling the funit to be incorporated in distributor bars of the circulating type whereby the circulating feature may be utilized to its full extent. Additionally, the unit is provided with a novel linkage for interconnecting the valve actuating means of the intermediate and end bar sections in a manner such that the outlet valves may be openedor closed in the normal manner "after a bar section has been deflected by an obstacle.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the flexible unit or auxiliary bar set forth in said prior patent. For this" purpose each of the end sections 2l and 22 has a tube 30 (Figs. 3 and of substantially lessdiameter than the internal diam'eterof the section extending from a point closely adjacent'the-outer end of the section and projecting from the :inner end of the section. When the end SGCtiODS-Tfl-TQ secured to the tubular members 25;each'tube-3Il isrreceived in a boss 3| formed as a part'of the member. The fittings 23, which arealike in construction, are suitably .partitioned'to form closed chamebers 32 with which the tubes communicate.

A short tube 33 communicating with :the chamber 32 of the fitting 23 .at the left end of the main bar section (as 'viewed inFig. 5) and a longer tube 33 communicating .with-the corresponding chamber of the flttingwatthe right end of the main barsection-serve.asconduits-for returning the material from the: extremities of the end sections-2| .and -22;into the streamqof ma-: terial flowing through .the intermediate section 20 whereby a continuous; flow-bf material is maintained throughout the entire length-of the distributor bar, as explained in the Etnyre patent referred to above. 4 I 1 In order to minimize damage to the apparatus in case the distributor bar encounters an obstruction when the vehicle upon which it is mounted is in motion, it has been the practice to connect the conduits of the distributing system by means of flexible joints and to support the conduits and thedistributor bar by means of a yielding linkage which permits limited front to rear and lateral movement of the conduit and distributor bar assembly.--While this arrangement provides adequate protection when the obstacle is encountered by the intermediate bar section, it has been found relatively 'inefiective when the projecting end sections meetthe obstacle. may be bent, or more frequently, the fittings: by which it is connected to the distributing-system and the intermediate section of the bar vare broken. Moreover, the yalve operating-mechanism is often disabled; making; it impossible to shut off theflow of material from the bar-in the usual manner. 4 v

In accordance with the presentinvention, the improved. distributor bar is constructed so that upon'encountering an obstacle the end portions of the bar may yield or bend from their normal position without damage to the baror parts of the system associated therewith. More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision, of a flexible unit 40 between each of the bar sections 2| and 22- and the-tubular member-25 connecting those sections with the intermediate sec- In such cases the end section involved section 40'- in its preferred form comprises a pair of rigid tubular elements 4| and 42 axially alined and connected by a flexible tubular element 43 of approximately :the same diameter., The element 43 may be of any suitable construction and as herein shown is a thin-walled metal tube circumferentially corrugated to provide a high degree of flexibility.

To preventobjectionable expansion of theelement 43 "from the pressure of the material supplied tofthe distributor bar and to maintain the end bar section in proper operating position, the elements 4| and 42 of the unit are connected by a hinge structure'whichjpermits the flexible element'43 to bend only in onejplane'. As shown in r Fig. 4 the hinge structure-comprises a 'pair'of elongated metal bars 44' each having one end offset and welded or otherwise secured to'opposit'e sides of the element 4|; The bars 44 are extended along the sides of the flexible element '43 and into overlapping relation to a companion pair of bars 45 similarly secured to the tubular element 42. The latter barsare provided with hinge pins 46 which project radially outwardly with respect to the element 45 through washers 46' of brass or other suitable material and engage in apertures in the bars 44 so that the latter may turn on the pins as pivots. Nuts 41 are threaded on the outer ends of the pins 46 to frictionally hold the ele-' ments of the auxiliary bar section in axial alinement. In use, the nuts are tightened sufficiently to prevent the operation of the valve actuating means from swinging the auxiliary bar sections, but yielding in case an obstruction is met to permit the end portions of the bar to bend and pass the obstruction without damage to the parts of the bar. After such displacement, the bar section may be straightened manually.

For cooperation with the material circulating system of the distributor bar with which it is associated, the flexible unit 40 is provided with a material return conduit capable of bending with the unit and adapted to connect the return tube 30 of the adjacent end bar section with the return chamber 32 of the associated fitting 23. The return conduit as shown comprises a flexible intermediate portion 50 in the form of a metal hose extending longitudinally through the flexible element 43 and terminating at opposite ends in rigid sleeve members 5| and 52 disposed in and secured tothe tubular members 4| and 42 of the unit. The-sleeve member 52 is dimensioned and positioned to receive the projecting end of the tube 30 of the adjacent end bar section, while the sleeve 5| is fitted with a tube 53 adapted to engage in the boss 3l of the member 25 .to establish 1 communi ation-. etw n.thel e-e l. and t turn (chamber 1; 32. of the fitting-3 3 To ipflrmit the-auxiliary bar. section!!! ,to, be

installed a o vent on l-. s ributor a e. tubular .element;42 provided at outer endwith an: enlargedportiomla threadedrto. receive the unionnutlli associated-with, the end bar. sec.-.;; tion.. The, other tubular ;member ,-;4lof the-- auxiliary bar. :section has amannular -flange or collar 49 on its outer end for coop erationiwith. a

union-nut 55 .ladapted to. be .threadecl,.;onto the;

tubular nember .of. the .Zfitting; 23 the auxiliary-bar sections may be instelled in exist-i; distributor-- ha s wi h u mpubst nt al.

changes ortmodificationsin the--.bars,;..

Distribution.otQituminous; material ovemthe;

area-.spanned-by .thefiauxiliary bar. section;

nozzles are arranged in pairs similarly to thenozzles nM and in -this ;instance,;,one; pair is mounted. on the tubularLelementA Land the- .other-; pairis mounted ,on ,the tubular; element 42 915 the; auxiliary bar section.. Uniform spacing; of -.the

discharge nozzles -is-..thus= maintained throughout theiullllengthaf .theedistribut or bar As..in ..the..-cas.e.of the regularsdischarge nozzles each maina oi, auxiliary nozzles 5 6,1.is- .--pr ovided witha .controLvalve-having an operating; lever 51 Theoperating; lever. of .the. valve adj agent the-fi ting .23 is .operativelyconnected .by-a link. ES ith the operating lover. I 5: ,of .the valves associated with the. .next adjacent pair, ofmozzles l4 in this instancenthe pair mountedconthe member: 25;.of

by.,, alshort ,1ink-..59 with the. .'linkageassociated with theivalves pf: the. intermediategbarqsection'. 20... 'IhislinkageJs oi Dwellelnz ovvnconstri ction. and; is,.arranged for,-op.eratio n by; an operating rod- ,6& longitudinally iorwardly-or ;rearwardly;.

Provision. is :made for connecting the-Naive. op-

erating leversal 5 of; the .end bar sectionswith the above. described; .valve operating linkages.- in. a manner suchthat the valves may ;be openedor closedwhenrtheend sectionis either in its normal operating position v or after. being.. deflected by meeting with, an.,obstacle. To this end -the-op-- crating levers .liaremonnected byzaslink with theoperatinglever. 5 ll..of. the-auxiliary section;- valve lever. Bladiacent-theend section; A-.rigid arm .66 -extends .forwardly from, ;the llinkeGz'p-over Y the ...adjac.en.t end of .theauxiliary bar section-4H" and. pivotally. connected. as. by a .bolt, 61 with' one-.endofaaigidbar .68.extending=longitudinally otlthatsection... Theothenend ofnthedinkefifl -is.

pivotally connected, asby .a bolt -69,;with-an.-arm.- Ill lrigid with. andproj ecting .iforwardly;E from the linlz-v 58. The arrangement is :Sucl l:tba't-'10ng i* tudinal; movement .of the link. 58aisstransmittedz through thelarms'lm-llinks 68 and arm lifiato the 1ink..65 .=to -operate= the valves located ontwardly ot. the flexible portion 43 .i-ofs the a-uxiliary bar, section;

Interference with-=valveoperation upon -deflectionaof-anend: bar section in eitherl-direction is prevented lay-constructing and arrangin the-links 66 "and 1-10 Iand Iinle-BB; so; that the pivots; Shand- 69 are alined alternately with the bending axis.

46. of the auxiliary. bar ;section when: thevalves are closedandmpened: respectively. .The "linkage is thus enabled to conform to the different posi tionsof the end bar sections and to remain op-. erative to open orclose the valvesas'required.

Inoperation, thebar sections 20; 2! and .22 are extended horizontally, as-shown in Fig. l. Hinge bars 44 and45 hold the end bar sections. rigidly in a plane .parallel .to that in whichthe. bar is movedwhenthe vehicle upon which it ismounted is in motion In practice, the nutsjll are tightened sufilciently to hold the bar sections... a a nstaccidental movement. in said. plane, but yield in case .the..end bar section meetswith an, obstruction. Inthat case, the endbar-section is T deflected so as to. .passtheobstruction, the defiec; tion being either rearwardly, as ..sl 1own..in,Fig. 2, or forwardly, as shownin Fig, 5, depending upon the direction ofrnovement ofthe vehicle.

The-deflectionof the bar. section is efiected byj. the..bending lof the .flexibleelement. 53 of the auxiliary. bar, section. 40. .so .that the .bar. and the fittings... associated therewith are .not damagedin. any. way), noris theoperation of the. material circulating system and flow. control mechanism interfered. with. The. outlet. valves maytlierefore' be shutoff intheusual .way toprevent loss or improper. distribution v-of.. material and the bar may be reconditionedior. use by simply bending the flexible. element .backnto its. normal straight condition .andclamping it there .by tighteningoi A the nuts. 41.. 4 I

It. will be, ,apparentfrom the. ioregoing that the I invention providesa distributor bar'of noyelfandf d n a eous. construction. By". .i co p retmsQ flexible. auxiliarysections in the bar, provision is.. madeso. that .the. end portions maybe deflected j to pass an. obstruction without damage to the bar. or to the. .fittings I associated therewith; The invention provides a flexible. auxiliary sectionior that purpose which. is simple and sturdy in con-f struction and which maybe readilypincorporated in existing distributor bars without requiring any' substantial. changes or modifications therein.

Provision is made for maintaining the bar rigidly-J in the proper position for distributing material while permitting the bar to yield upon meeting an obstruction whether the vehicle carrying the apparatus is moving either forwardly or rearwardly. Upon such deflection of the bar, the

discharge outlets may be closed in the usual way to prevent loss or improper distribution oi the material .and. the bar. maybe quickly and easily conditioned for reuse.

I. claim .as my invention:

1. A distributor bar for bituminous and like materials having axially alined main v and end sections. valved outlets spaced apart longitudi-. nally of said sections al flexible auxiliary section interposed between each endv section and the. main section permitting deflection of the end. sections relative to the main section, said auxi l iary. sections having valved outlets, operating linkages for the ,valved .outlets or each section, thelinkages of .said. auxiliary sections connecting the linkages of said main and ,end sections and including. pivotally interconnected membersoperative to transmit the movements of one link age to the other when the end section of the bar has been deflected from its normal positi'onl' 2. A distributor bar for bituminous and like materials having main and-end-sections, valved outlets spaced apartlongitudinally ofsaidsections, an auxiliary section interposed between eachend section ands-the main section, said auxiliary sections being-flexibleabout axes :perpendicular to the :axisof saidsmairr section "for permitting deflection of the end sections relative to the main section, operating linkages for the valved outlets of said main and end sections, and linkage on said auxiliary sections connecting the linkages oi the main and the respective end sections and including rigid arms and links extending over said auxiliary sections, said arms and links being interconnected by pivots located substantially in alineinent with said first mentioned axes.

3. In a distributor bar for bituminous material and the like, a pair of tubular bar sections having valved outlets spaced apart longitudinally of the sections, an auxiliary bar section interposed between said sections, said auxiliary section including rigid tubular elements connected by a flexible element permitting deflection of one bar section relative to the other, valved outlets in each of said tubular elements, operating levers for each valved outlet, linkages connecting the operating levers for the valves of each bar section with the operating lever for the valve of the adjacent tubular element, said linkages each having projecting arms extending over said flexible element, and a rigid, articulated link extending between said arms to provide an operative connection between said linkages.

4. In a distributor bar for bituminous material and the like, a pair of tubular bar sections having valved outlets spaced apart longitudinally of the sections. an auxiliary bar section interposed between said sections, said auxiliary section including rigid tubular elements connected by a flexible element permitting deflection of one bar section relative to the other, valved outlets in each of said tubular elements, operating levers for each .valved outlet, links connecting the operating levers for the ,valves of each bar section with the operating lever for the valve of the adjacent tubular element, an arm rigid with each link and projecting therefrom over said auxiliary section, and a rigid, articulated link extending longitudinally of said auxiliary section pivotally secured at opposite ends to said arms for transmitting the movements of one of said links to the other.

5. A distributor bar comprising, in combination, two sections each having valved outlets for the discharge of bituminous and like materials and each having an operating linkage for the valves of the outlets, an auxiliary bar section for connecting said distributor bar sections, said auxiliary bar section comprising a pair of rigid tubular elements, a flexible tubular element connecting said rigid elements, coupling means on each rigid element for attachment to one of the distributor bar sections, and a linkage carried by said auxiliary bar section for connecting the operating linkages of the respective distributor bar sections.,

6. An auxiliary bar section for connecting two sections of a distributor bar each having valved outlets for the discharge of bituminous and like materials and each having an operating linkage for the valves of the outlets, said auxiliary bar section comprising a p ir of rigid tubular elements, a flexible tubular element connecting said rigid elements, coupling means on each rigid element for attachment to one of the distributor bar, sections, a valved outlet for each of said rigid elements, and a linkage for operating the valves of said last-mentioned outlets and additignaliy serving to connect the operating linkages g; respective distributor bar sections.

7. An auxiliary bar section for connecting two sections of a distributor bar each having valved outlets for the discharge of bituminous and like materials and each having an operating linkage for the valves of the outlets, said auxiliary bar section comprising a pair of rigid tubular elements, a flexible tubular element connecting said rigid elements, coupling means on each rigid element for attachment to'one of the distributor bar sections, a valved outlet for'each of said rigid elements, means carried-by said auxiliary bar section for connecting the operating linkages of the respective distributor bar "sections, said connecting means including rigid members inter-" connected for pivotal movement in a plane sub stantially parallel to the-longitudinal axis or the auxiliary bar section, and hinge means con:- necting said rigid tubular elements'operative to: restrict the bending of said-flexible element 'to' said plane. I I v 8. An auxiliary'distributor barsection co'm prising, in combinatioma' pair'of rigid tubular elements disposed in end-to-end relation, a tubular element of smaller diameter than said rigid elements extending longitudinally through each rigid element and rigidly secured thereto with its axis ofiset laterally from the axis of the rigid member, a flexible tubular element connecting adjacent ends of said rigid 'elements, a flexible tube of smaller diameter than said flexible element connecting adjacent ends ofsaid small diameter elements, and hinge means connecting said rigid elements operative to restrict the bending of said flexible element to a plai i'e com -f transportation, said auxiliary section comprising a pair of rigid axially alined tubular elements connected by a flexible tubular element permitting deflection of one of said rigid elements from axial alinement with the other element, and

hinge means connecting said rigid elements operative to restrict the deflection of said. one

element to a substantially horizontal plane.

10. A distributor bar for bituminous and like materials having pivotally connected main and auxiliary sections, said auxiliary section comprising a pair of rigid elements connected by a flexible element permitting deflection of the outermost rigid element with respect to the longitudinal axis of said main bar section, said elements defining passageways for, the materials, valved outlets for said main bar section and for each of said rigid elements, an operating linkage for the valved outlets of "said main bar section,

operating linkages for the valved outlets of the respective rigid elements, means connecting the linkage of said main bar section with the linkage of the adjacent rigid element permitting pivotal movement of the element relative to said main bar section, and means connecting the linkage of said adjacent rigid element with the linkage of the other element permitting deflection of the latter element in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said adiacent rigid element relative to said main bar section.

11. An auxiliary distributor bar section adapted to be connected at one end to a horizontally disposed main bar section to receive therefrom material to be distributed, said auxiliary section comprising a pair of rigid tubular elements, a flexible tubular element connecting said rigid elements, means for maintaining said elements normally alined in a substantially straight line, said flexible element and said means being yieldable to permit deflection of one rigid element relative to the other, a discharge nozzle opening from each of said rigid elements, valve means controlling the flow of material from said nozzles, and an actuating linkage connecting the valve means of the respective nozzles, said linkage including a rigid arm extending generally laterally from each valve means over the end section, and a rigid link pivotally connected to each of said arms.

12. An auxiliary distributor bar section adapted to be connected at one end to a horizontally disposed main bar section to receive therefrom material to be distributed, said auxiliary section comprising a pair of rigid tubular elements, a flexible tubular element connecting said rigid elements, means for maintaining said elements normally alined in a substantially straight line, said flexible element and said means being yieldable to permit deflection of one rigid element relative to the other, a discharge nozzle opening from each of said rigid elements, valve means controlling the flow of material from said nozzles, means for operating the valve means associated with the rigid element adjacent the main bar section, and a, linkage connecting said lastmentioned valve means with the valve means associated with the other rigid element, said linkage being operative to transmit operating 10 movements from one valve means to the other in any of the relative positions of said rigid elements permitted by said flexible element.

13. In a distributor bar for bituminous material and thelike, a main bar section and an end bar section, said sections defining passageways therein for the material, outlets spaced apart along said sections, and a pair of pivotal connections between said sections, the axis of one of said pivotal connections being positioned substantially in a horizontal plane to permit displacement of said end section in a generally vertical plane, the axis of the other pivotal connection being substantially vertical to permit displacement of said end section in a substantially horizontal plane.

SAMUEL R. ETNYRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 420,889 Probert Feb. 4, 1890 483,269 Talley Sept. 27, 1892 522,759 Landis July 10, 1894 596,590 Henderson Jan. 4, 1898 680,328 Henderson Aug. 13, 1901 695,925 Gulland Mar. 25, 1902 1,743,245 Smith 'Jan. 14, 1930 2,014,355 Hussman Sept. 10, 1935 2,346,478 Etnyre Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 497,232 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1938 

